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Protests in Turkey lead to new travel advice

Monday, 3 June 20133 min read

The Foreign Office is warning British travellers to Turkey to keep clear of demonstrations following a weekend of protests.

Anti-government demonstrations in 67 towns and cities across Turkey have led to more than 1,700 arrests.

The worse affected cities were Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir.

Police used tear gas and water cannons in a bid to control the crowds of protestors.

According to a doctor’s association, 450 protesters have been treated in hospitals in Istanbul since Friday.

Updating its travel advice yesterday, The Foreign & Commonwelath Office said: "Following recent demonstrations in Istanbul and other cities in Turkey in which police used tear gas and water cannons, the possibility of further demonstrations remains high.

"We advise British nationals to avoid all demonstrations."

The Islamist-rooted Turkish government last month passed a bill creating far-reaching restrictions on alcohol, and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has publicly stated that women should have at least three children.